Tongs and the like



Patented Apr. 11, 1944 UNITED 'STATES PATENT FFICE 2,346,537 i t f TDNGS AND' THE LIKE Frank l). Fernandez, `New lork, NY. v Application AprilvlO, 1943, Serial No. '482,625 l k claims. 191.2247994) The invention, generally considered, relates to novel spring means for maintaining the free ends of a pair of pivoted members either in spaced position or in intimate contact.

' The principal object of myinvention, generally considered, -is to so form and connect a pair `of members, formed of Wood, ber orV synthetic resins, o-r the like, to provide spring means integral-with one of `saidv members and adapted to be .flexed by a relative pivotal movement of the two members to thereby maintain the free ends of -the members in a predetermined position.

Another and more Yspecific object of' the invention is to provide tong-like members vvhich may be used for serving bread, salad :or the like which are constructed of non-strategic material and in which the pivotalV mounting is so positioned and Iarranged(as to provideintegral spring means for yieldingly maintaining the ends of the tong-like members in a predetermined position.

Other objects of the invention will appear from a more detailed description of the invention, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view-of one embodiment of my invention in which the resilient means is so positioned and arranged as to cause the free ends of the tong-like members to be yieldingly maintained apart.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is likewise a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 1 except that in this view the tong members are shown in closed position with the spring means flexed.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a slightly modified construction in which, by reason of the bearing of the resilient means, the free ends of the pivoted members are maintained normally in intimate contact, as is illustrated in the side elevational view of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the modified construction shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 5.

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a perspective view and a side elevational view of a slightly modified form of construction of that illustrated in Figure 1, illustrating a single spring rather than a plurality of spring members as is shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the numeral I designates one of the pivotal members, the opposite member being designated as 2. The

free ends of the members I and' Vmay be proe vided with fork-like portions, as shown at" 3.,al though it is to be understood that this is merely illustrative and that it is immaterial, sof'ar" as applicants invention `is concerned, what formation is used at the free ends of rthe tong-like members. 1 1

The member I is provided with a plurality of ngerlike` portions 4,5 and 6, the latter being readily lform'ed bysawing to produce the cuts l'l and 8 and these cuts are substantially co-extensive so that the `finger-like por-tions are li k e- Wise substantially colxtensive. The opposite member 2 is provided-With a pair of Vlongiltilldinally extending arms 9 and Il! which maybe readily formedby removing `from the centra-Ipertin a tmigues as .to provide a space `I,I.` "The" width o'f'the portion 5-is` `preferably the same as the Yspace II so as to permit themember 5to enter between the portions 9 and I0 and to be pivotally connected thereto by the pintle I2. The upper extensions of the finger-like portions l and 6 are provided with attened surfaces i3 which rockably engage the adjacent surfaces respectively of the portions 9 and IU.

It will be readily apparent from the illustration and the foregoing description that any approaching pivotal movement of the members I and 2 will cause the flexing of the members i and 6 by reason of the rocking engagement of the surfaces I3 with the adjacent surfaces of the other member. It Will therefore also be obvious that in this type of construction the free end of the tong-like members Will be yieldingly maintained in spaced position by the spring action of the portions 4 and 6 and that upon the approach of the free end the spring action of the members 4 and 6 is multiplied so that upon release of pressure the tong-like members will assume the position shown in Figure l.

It will be observed that the rocking bearing in this embodiment of my invention is below the pivotal point and hence the closing movement will increase the spring pressure.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the members in and 2a. are substantial identical with the disclosure of Figure 1 insofar as the spring arms of the pivotal connection are concerned. The spring arms lia and 6a are adapted to engage the portion of the member 2a above the axis of the pivotal connection I2a and consequently a separating movement of the arms Ia and 2a will cause an increase in the spring pressure maintaining the arms la and 2a in predetermined or closed position. Consequently, in this form the free ends of the members la and 2a are maintained in closed position by reason of the bearing between the spring fingers and the arms 2a being above rather than below the pivotal connection between the members.

Figures 7 and 8 show the use of but a single member I4 for maintaining the free ends of the tong-like members in yieldable spaced relation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of members, one of said members having a plurality of substantially co-` extensive integral finger-like portions, one of said portions being pivotally connected `to the other member, another of said portions 'engaging the surface of the said other memberadjac'ent said pivot, said last named portion constituting spring means for yieldingly maintaining the free ends of said members in a predetermined position.

. 2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of members, one of which is provided with a plurality of spaced 1ongitudinally extending integral finger-like portions, one of said portions being pivotally connected to one end of the other member, another of said portions engaging the surface of the said other members adjacent the said pivot, said last named portion being adapted to be iiexed by the pivotal movement of said members from a predetermined position to thereby yieldingly maintain said membersin said position.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of members, one of said members having a pair of spaced portions, the other of said members having a plurality of substantially co-extensive integral linger-like portions, one of said portions being adapted to be interposed between the spaced portions of the other member and pivotally connected thereto, said other ringer-like portions each engaging the surface of the adjacent portion on the other member in proximity to said pivot, said last named portions constituting a spring means for yieldingly maintaining the free ends of said members in a predetermined position.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of tong members, one of said members having a plurality of substantially co-extensive integral finger-like portions, the other of said members having a pair of spaced portions, one of the iinger-like portions of one member being adapted to 'extend between and being pivotally connected to the spaced portions of the other member, the other iinger-like portions having a rocking bearing on the surface of the spaced portions of the other member at a point below the axis of said pivot, said last named finger-like portions being adapted to be flexed by the pivotal approach of said tong member and adapted to yieldingly maintain the free ends of the tong-like portion in spaced relation.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of members, one of said members having a plurality oi substantially co-extensive integral nger-like portions, the other of said members being provided with spaced longitudinally extending portions, one of said nger-like portions being adapted to extend between and -be pivotally connected to the spaced portions of the other membenat least one of said other Aiinger-like portions having a rocking bearing on thev other member above said pivot, said last named po1'' tion being adapted to be flexed by a pivotal separation of said members to thereby yieldingly maintain said members in closed position.

FRANK D. FERNANDEZ.- 

